April 9, 2025 : After a rather interesting 2024 that saw the releases of Abraham Ozler, Bramayugam, and Turbo, Mammootty had a rather dull start to 2025 with Gautham Vasudev Menon’s Malayalam debut, Dominic and the Ladies’ Purse. The actor is currently awaiting the release of his Vishu offering, Bazoooka, which also stars Gautham Menon in a pivotal role.
Talking about working in Deeno Dennis’ directorial debut Bazooka, Gautham said, “I’m playing Benjamin Joshua, a cop, and it is quite a big role. In fact, for the first time, I allotted a lot of days for a film, mainly because I liked the idea of the film, and of course, the fact that Mammootty was the protagonist.” Explaining the challenges he faced while acting in Bazooka, Gautham shared that the movie was shot in live sound, and it was quite an interesting process. “There was a lot of internalising because the film was in sync sound. It was quite the learning process.”
Bazooka, which has a gaming backdrop, is essentially a heist film with a hero, a villain, and a lot of twists in the tale. “I heard that Deeno came in as a writer, but it was Mammukka who asked him to direct the film after hearing the narration,” revealed Gautham Menon, who added that one of the first questions he asked Deeno was whether Mammootty was in the know about his casting choice. “He said yes… And I always wanted to work with Mammukka. In fact, I never thought I would direct a film with him even while shooting for Bazooka. I was purely a professional actor on the sets. Dominic came much later.”
Gautham Vasudev Menon is someone who wears his heart on the sleeve, and is candid about how his films are an extension of his self. This also means that moving away from his own movies might not happen immediately. “If only I could move on from my films, life would be so easy. In fact, I am still in the Dominic hangover. The things is you have to let go and move on, and it is a problem if you don’t,” said Gautham, clearly understanding that he has the problem. “I get very personal with my films. I get involved with the actor, and honestly, I don’t want to let Mammootty sir go.”
Signing off by talking about how he has returned to Kochi for the first time since the Dominic and the Ladies’ Purse promotions, Gautham said, “I am still in that zone. I still have the Dominic hangover.”
Gautham Menon, who hasn’t taken on any other directorial responsibilities yet, is hoping the decks around the release of his long-delayed Dhruva Natchathiram is finally cleared. Meanwhile, Bazooka will clash at the box-office with the young guns of Malayalam cinema — Basil Joseph’s Maranamass and Naslen’s Alappuzha Gymkhana — and will face tough competition from the old guard in Tamil
Summary: Director Gautham Vasudev Menon reflects on working with Mammootty in Bazooka, saying he’s still captivated by the actor’s intense portrayal of Dominic.